Ministerial code ‘not about protecting civil servants’ rights’, PM’s lawyer says
18 Nov Legal

Ministerial code ‘not about protecting civil servants’ rights’, PM’s lawyer says

High Court is told Boris Johnson’s decision on Priti Patel bullying probe was a “matter of judgment for him”
by Jim Dunton
PM proposes ban on MPs working as paid consultants
17 Nov Legal
PM proposes ban on MPs working as paid consultants
'Snooping technology' reports spark call for stronger law on staff surveillance
10 Nov Legal
'Snooping technology' reports spark call for stronger law on staff surveillance
Ministers' WhatsApp messages covered by FoI, watchdog confirms
09 Nov Legal
Ministers' WhatsApp messages covered by FoI, watchdog confirms
High Court poised to probe PM’s decision on Patel bullying
12 Nov Legal
High Court poised to probe PM’s decision on Patel bullying
Next week’s hearings will add to pressure over Johnson’s approach to standards and support for civil servants
Attorney General’s Office names deputy head
11 Oct Legal
Attorney General’s Office names deputy head
"Inspiring and highly respected civil servant" started his career in New Zealand
Government Legal Department appoints two DGs
05 Oct Legal
Government Legal Department appoints two DGs
Mel Nebhrajani was recognised in New Year's Honours for her work
Departments told to hand over records of WhatsApp chats used for official business
29 Sep Legal
Departments told to hand over records of WhatsApp chats used for official business
Campaign group hopes evidence will support its call for judicial review into "WhatsApp government"
'Justice is beyond price': sacked justice secretary tells PM to invest in legal system after 'years of underfunding'
16 Sep Legal
'Justice is beyond price': sacked justice secretary tells PM to invest in legal system after 'years of underfunding'
"As a government we should always be prepared to invest in it," says Robert Buckland
Minister under fire for replacing phone before it was searched in procurement proceedings
06 Aug Legal
Minister under fire for replacing phone before it was searched in procurement proceedings
Transparency campaigners question why Lord Bethell’s documents cannot be retrieved
Government lawyers 'underpaid', ex-GLD chief says
08 Jul Legal
Government lawyers 'underpaid', ex-GLD chief says
Jonathan Jones also says he doesn't think PM "cares about the law or the rule of law"
Government facing legal challenge as DCMS admits use of automatically deleting messages
15 Jun Legal
Government facing legal challenge as DCMS admits use of automatically deleting messages
Campaign groups Foxglove and The Citizens to launch court case in two weeks if practice is not stopped
GCHQ legal director to lead Attorney General’s Office
20 May Legal
GCHQ legal director to lead Attorney General’s Office
"Inspiring leader" Douglas Wilson named as AGO's next director general
PPE procurement drive left civil servants ‘drowning’ in VIP requests
23 Apr Legal
PPE procurement drive left civil servants ‘drowning’ in VIP requests
Good Law Project says government’s “high-priority lane” for suppliers hampered officials’ ability to buy necessary equipment from legitimate suppliers
Staff churn ‘means lawyers have better policy knowledge than officers’
16 Apr Legal
Staff churn ‘means lawyers have better policy knowledge than officers’
Think tank argues policymaking processes should be improved before rules on High Court challenges are changed
Cabinet Office threatened with legal action over racism and bullying allegations
06 Apr Legal
Cabinet Office threatened with legal action over racism and bullying allegations
Union says there is “no point” in further talks with senior managers and looks to Equality and Human Rights Commission
Priti Patel insists new asylum seeker plans do not break international law
24 Mar Legal
Priti Patel insists new asylum seeker plans do not break international law
Government accused of ‘unjustly differentiate between the deserving and undeserving refugee’
Former Government Legal Department head Jonathan Jones joins top law firm
05 Mar Legal
Former Government Legal Department head Jonathan Jones joins top law firm
Appointments watchdog Acoba admits potential risks exist but clears new role with Linklaters
Hancock defends DHSC in Covid procurement row
23 Feb Legal
Hancock defends DHSC in Covid procurement row
Health secretary brushes off questions on High Court transparency decision and says it would be “ridiculous” to stop work being won by acquaintances of ministers
Hancock broke law by failing to publish DHSC coronavirus contracts on time, court finds
22 Feb Legal
Hancock broke law by failing to publish DHSC coronavirus contracts on time, court finds
DHSC failed to meet transparency guidance on publishing details of contracts
Government Legal Department names successor to Jonathan Jones
18 Feb Legal
Government Legal Department names successor to Jonathan Jones
Susanna McGibbon appointed as new GLD perm sec, Treasury solicitor and HM procurator general
Dominic Cummings ‘expected’ friends’ firm to get Cabinet Office contract
16 Feb Legal
Dominic Cummings ‘expected’ friends’ firm to get Cabinet Office contract
High Court hears latest challenge to government’s emergency procurement moves
Ministers confirm fix for unlawful Civil Service Pension Scheme discrimination
05 Feb Legal
Ministers confirm fix for unlawful Civil Service Pension Scheme discrimination
Unions welcome decision to give scheme members deferred-choice option but seek action on reduced contributions
'Compassionate leader with sharp intellect' sought to lead Attorney General's Office
26 Jan Legal
'Compassionate leader with sharp intellect' sought to lead Attorney General's Office
£120,000 on offer for AGO's next director general
Closing argument: ex-legal chief Jonathan Jones on Brexit, Covid and leaving government
21 Jan Legal
Closing argument: ex-legal chief Jonathan Jones on Brexit, Covid and leaving government
Jonathan Jones’s three-decade civil service career came to an abrupt end in September when he quit over controversial elements of the internal market bill. The government’s former top lawyer tells Beckie Smith about his departure, cocktail recipes, and the legal side of the Covid crisis
‘We have balanced the urgent response to the pandemic with the legal requirements that underpin civil service appointments’: Civil Service Commission chief Pete Lawrence on 2020
22 Dec 2020 Legal
‘We have balanced the urgent response to the pandemic with the legal requirements that underpin civil service appointments’: Civil Service Commission chief Pete Lawrence on 2020
2020 was a year unlike any other, with the coronavirus pandemic upending the work of government and changing how we live our daily lives. Senior figures from across the civil service tell us how the unprecedented 12 months affected them, and look ahead to 2021
Government drops controversial Brexit clauses that would have broken international law
09 Dec 2020 Legal
Government drops controversial Brexit clauses that would have broken international law
Internal markets bill would have broken the law in a "specific and limited way"
Home Office broke the law with hostile environment policy, equalities watchdog finds
25 Nov 2020 Legal
Home Office broke the law with hostile environment policy, equalities watchdog finds
Department “effectively ignored” equality legislation when developing the policy, damning EHRC report concludes